When I was 16 I bought a Ruger Blackhawk .357 mag. Ten years later, after I was married with a small family, l had to eat it. I've made the decision to replace it with a .44 mag and thought I'd just get another Blackhawk. But as I've done some research, I've began to wonder if I shouldn't replace it with the double action Redhawk. I realize it is a personal preference. But are there any Ruger people out there that could offer some pro's and con's of the Blackhawk and the Redhawk. Believe me, I've watched a fair amount of You-tube stuff and it hasn't helped much.

I've only had the Blackhawk in 44mag, I sold it too. If I were to buy another I'd choose the Redhawk. The Blackhawk worked but I like the double actions better, if for no other reason than the ease of loading and unloading.

If I were looking I'd think hard about a Colt Anaconda, not a lot more $ than the Ruger Redhawk. Guess I'd have to decide if it were worth the extra $100+-.

the biggest difference is price and loading

the redhawk loads faster than the blackhawk

what is your use ask yourself what is my use first then let that decide your choice

Can't go wrong with either one If you take care of it and use it on an as need basis it will last forever and it will hold it's value . If you want a self defense weapon in bear country you would be better off with the Redhawk If you are deer hunting or caring it on trap line the Blackhawk might suit your needs better .

It will be used primarily for home protection and recreational shooting. But I occasionally find myself in bear country. I'm kind of leaning toward the Redhawk.

If the boogey man comes into your home or you run into a bear that thinks your a walking pop tart, your not going to want to have to manually c o c k the hammer back

Take a look at a 41 mag Blackhawk

The Ruger Blackhawk is a single action, the Redhawk is a double action. The Redhawk is a heavier platform and is offered in heavier calibers, such as 45 Colt, 41 Mag, 44 mag, etc.

I have a Smith 629 V comp. .44 Rem mag.
Ported
...and that's why I bought it
The Rugers I shot all had a lot of recoil

with Personal defensive tool as #1 I would say Double action and faster reload

the question is should you also add capacity

also 44mag is very percussive inside lots of fire ball in the dark.



he does a part two video where they do a charging bear pulled by a snow machine results are the same more hits on target in the same amount of time.

doesn't matter how fast you shoot only hits count so more hits faster is good

Glock 40 10mm is a thought touch longer and optics ready, if you say no I am a revolver guy not interested , thats cool , just putting it out there 15 is more than 6 and a mag goes in a lot faster than 6 individual rounds

I have 6 Rugers. Two Redhawks, 7 1/2 and a 5 1/2, 44 magnum. The 7 1/2 Likes the Sierra 210 grain jacketed hollow cavity. The 5 1/2 likes the Lee 310 grain wide flat nose. I cast them myself. A Bisley 5 1/2 inch Blackhawk in 44 special. It will shoot any bullet you put in it VERY nicely. It's a pure pleasure to shoot. A GP 100 3 inch 44 Special that does nicely with a 233 grain wadcutter that I cast and 200 grain JHP. I have a 7 1/2 inch Super Blackhawk chambered in 357 Maximum. It takes the 180 grain XTP bullet. You can shoot it all day long with full power loads and enjoy the last one as much as the first. Last is a Wrangler 22 lr. It shoots nice groups but unfortunatly it puts those groups 2 inches low and 2 inches left at 30 feet.

All the center fires have the triggers and hammers polished up, spring kits and hammer and trigger shims added. They are smooth as silk and somewhat weighty. They all require good leather to lug them around. You can not hurt a Redhawk. If I were to be stuck out in the wilderness with only one handgun it would be the 5 1/2 inch Redhawk in its crossdraw holster.

All the critters I've taken with a handgun save one have been shot single action. The one double action was a doe that some dummy shot through the neck cutting her wind pipe and esophagus and didn't even bother to follow up. I watched the jerk do it. My partner and I tracked that doe for 3/4 of a mile or so. I spotted her at about 30 feet as she was getting up to go and finished her in a hurry double action breaking her neck just below the head. Wyatt Earp style. I was going for the back of her head.

As far as the Anaconda ADC mentioned I shot a couple. I wasn't impressed with the accuracy with the loads they liked or the triggers/actions. Plus you can buy two Super Blackhawks or Redhawks and probably a box of shells for what the Colt goes for. On the Colts the cylinder goes into battery/locks up as the hammer is falling. The Rugers go into battery before the hammer is tripped just like an S&W.

Black hawk is has been available in all those calibers I have one in 45 colt. Loading manuals list rugar only loads and they are for both. The ruger only loads will not be good on a colt or other revolver.

I also had a red hawk in 44 mag. Killed deer with it out to 90 yards. Sold it. It was to heavy and long at with 7 and a quarter inch barrel if I remember Correctly a real pain to pack around. I like the 45 cold black hawk better it has a shorter barrel is lighter and to me looks much nicer than that ugly supper red hawk I had.

Yes it's slower to load and unload but that will not be an issue for me it it was I wouldn't take a revolver rather a 10mm glock.

I have a RedHawk and I like it a lot. It’s my wives favorite gun to shoot. After the first time shooting it she said she wanted as her concealed carry gun. I laughed because with seven inch barrel and scope it’s not the easiest to conceal or lightest to carry.

Yes, the Super Blackhawk is available in the larger, heavier calibers, I was referring to the New Blackhawk model.

Decisions... decisions... which one to buy. When I have that problem I usually wind up buying both !!! Although usually a few months apart !! I have a Redhawk, an early one and I love it.

The Blackhawk is just as strong as the redhawk. I hunt with revolvers, and use the Super Blackhawk in 45 Colt. Also had one in 500JRH. Ran full house loads in both calibers. There is no tougher frame. Even loading manuals will tell you that.

If personal protection is main issue, go with the redhawk because all ya gotta do is keep pulling the trigger.

Own both a three screw Blackhawk and a stainless Super Redhawk the red hawk is more fore giving on the hands due to its grip style

If you like slinging ammo and a heavier gun get the red hawk, if you like squeezing the trigger and a lighter gun go with the black hawk, if you want home defense get a sawed of double barrel with buck shot and blow them back through the door. Personally I like the black hawk for hunting and and assortment for home and carry. It all depends what your comfortable with and the usage.

I'll tell you what's kind of crazy. I don't even own a .44 mag. yet, but I've already bought everything I need to reload nearly 800 rounds of 44 mag. and 44 special rounds. Just being proactive I guess. Next step is buy the gun and you guys are giving me a lot of good input.

Dad had a Redhawk sold it to buddy that moved to Alaska. I’ve got a Blackhawk. I liked shooting the Redhawk better seemed smoother to me. I’ve got a buddy with a Redhawk he’s been trying to get me to buy it. I just really don’t need it.

Buy what you want but I think a large caliber revolver is a very poor choice for home defense. Too much penetration. Too much noise made in cocking if a single action. No way I want a perp to know I'm drawing down on him. Not enough rounds. Not as easy to make safe and still handy with little kids around. Before they have the hand strength to cycle the slide a semi auto is safe with no round in the chamber (does eliminate the silence advantage though if you have to rack it). Semi in 9mm, and maybe 10mm, can probably be used effectively by your wife/GF. Less likely to be so with the bigger revolvers. Lots of tactical options with over the counter semi's not available with revolvers (lights, lazer sights, reddots).

My take is that you need 2 new guns. That's not so bad is it?

Since you threw the self defense and bear defense in the mix that pushes the advantage to a 4" barreled Redhawk, you have quicker follow up shots and with 44 special loads for defense you will have very little recoil in that heavy of a revolver. Are there better choices out there for defense, sure but that is not what you asked about and a Redhawk loaded with 44 special loads will be a formidable firearm in a home defense situation.

I prefer a Redhawk, they fit my hand better and are much more comfortable to shoot. Also like the way the cylinder flops out to load and unload. In my experience they tend to be more accurate also, but that could be because they fit me better. A friend has a Super Redhawk in 454 Casull that I really liked, I could shoot a paper plate at 100 yards every time with it, with iron sights. I borrowed it and shot a deer with it at about 75 yards. Really thought about buying one like it, but the dang thing is as heavy as a rifle and I knew it would be a novelty I used for a few months and then I would just carry a rifle while it sat at the house.
The gun I pack is a Taurus Ultra Lite 44 magnum. Super light and easy to pack, surprisingly accurate with a 4 inch barrel (2-3 inch groups at 25 yards off of sandbags) and it fits my hands perfectly with the rubber grips and is not unpleasant to shoot. I tried a Smith and Wesson Ultralite a friend owns basically identical to the Taurus except with wooden grips... three shots and I handed it back and never wanted to shoot it again. That thing hurt! The grips and how they fit your hand are more important in magnum pistols than most people give them credit for.

Whatever you choose, I would not get a ported model. The noise is incredible and not worth the limited reduction in recoil or muzzle flip. IMHO

That’s what I call prepared

I have owned the .44 Blackhawk and then traded for the .44 Redhawk and eventually traded for the .44 Super Redhawk which I chose for the ability to mount optics. I still own it and have shot several deer with it. I prefer the double actions but like the looks of the Blackhawks since they resemble the old west sidearms. I also had the Colt Anaconda in .44 Mag but sold it along with a big Winchester collection that I got rid of 11 years ago.

I have the super Blackhawk in 41 mag and love it. Single action but it's a hunting gun.. I had wanted one since childhood and very glad I found one.

Those are pretty impressive. I shot one a while back while out shooting it’s predecessor my 629 mountain gun. Were I to “upgrade” this one would be top of my list. I like my wheel guns.

Osky

I still have the S&W 29-2 and the Super Redhawk but regretfully sold the Anaconda about 11 years ago.